Control apparatus for printing equipment



J1me c. P. FELDHAUSEN ErAL 2,288,129

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EQUIPMENT Y Filed April 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Q YQW 3 @M'm MW JIM 54W @(Xkw June ,1 c. P. FELDHAUSEN ETAL 2,288,129

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PRINTING- EQUIPMENT Filed April 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1me c. P. FELDHAUSEN Er L 2,288,129

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EQUIPMENT Filed April 11, 19 0 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CONTROL iAPggRATUS FOR PRINTING I UIPMENT Cyril P. Feldhausen, Wauwatosa, and Eric H.

Laabs, Milwaukee, wis assignors to Cutler- Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corpora tion of Delaware Claims.

The invention relates to control apparatus for printing equipment, and more particularly to the control of ink drying apparatus used in connection with web printing machines.

In web printing machines the printed web leaves the printing rollers at a very high speed and while the ink on the web is still wet. It is therefore necessary to dry the ink prior to the folding and/or cutting of the web in order to prevent impairment of the quality of the printing, and it is usual to pass the sheet over a blast of hot air or the like to accomplish the result. It is customary for the purpose stated to run the sheet through a closed chamber in which the temperature of' the air impinging upon the sheet is high enough to cause ignition thereof if the contact is prolonged, and the gases driven ofi the ink are combustible and must be promptly removed from the chamber. Accordingly the conditions in the chamber must be closely controlled.

y An object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the temperature of the drying medium.

Another object is to control the supply and exhaust of air to and from the drying chamber.

Another object is to control the fuel supply for heating the drying air in accordance with the speedof the web. A Another object is to provide for easy adjust ment at will of the operating conditions in the drying chamber.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

. The accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic showing' of a drying chamber and the control elements associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a connection diagram of the electrical circuits for controlling the system shown in Fig. i; and v 5 Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of the control circuits shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral l indicates provided in the chamber over which the web is passed in its passr 3e therethrough. On one side of the web and intermediate of the rollers 8 and 9 is provided a gas burner comprising a tube I0 arranged transversely of the web and having on its upper side a series of holes or slots I l to permit egress of the combustion gas. The burner is located closely adjacent to the web so that the flame and/or hot combustion gases impinge upon it to quickly evaporate the liquid vehicle in the printing ink and dry or oxidize the latter. The tube I0 is supplied with gas from a suitable source through a pipe 12 in which is inserted a normally closed solenoid operated valve l3, having a magnetizing coil M which causes opening of the valve when it is energized. There is further provided in the pipe I2 a. motor operated regulating valve l5 which can be opened or closed toa variable extent by a reversible motor l6, connected tosaid valve by means of a set of reducing gears or the like. The motor also operates a pair of normally closed limit switches l1 and I8 .whose contacts are opened selectively by the action of the motorwhen the valve i5 reaches its fully closed and fully open positions, respectively. Y

Air conduits l9 are arranged on each side of and extend parallel with the pipe Ill. The condiagrammatically a web printing press of any duits l9 are joined with each other and connected through a fresh air supply conduit 20 to a blower 2| which is adapted to supply combustion and cooling or ventilating air to the chamber 4. The sides of the conduits N which are adjacent to theburner tube l0 are spaced from the latter and shaped to form therewith combustion channels 22 into which the flame and the combustion gases are drawn by an exhaust fan 23 which is connected by a pipe 24 to said combustion channels. The air supplied to the conduits I9 is expelled therefrom into the chamber 4 through elongated slots 25 on the sides of the conduits l9 opposite to those facing the burner tube I0. Such air serves to support combustion of the gas, and at least a portion thereof (from the right-hand conduit I9) tends to cool to some extent the web 3 after heating of the latter by the gas flame. The fresh cool air passing through the conduits I9 serves alsotocool the; latter and to absorb the heat from the gas flame impinging thereon. The conduits 20 and 24 are respectively provided with adjustable dampers 26 and 21. These dampers are normally biased toward fully closed position by a spring 28, but are restrained from complete closure thereof by any suitable stop means (not shown) for partially opened positioning thereof as shown in Fig. 1. Said valves 26 and 21 may be fully opened by an electromagnet 29 to which they are jointly connected by suitable links or levers, as shown.

In order to further cool the sheet after it has passed the burner a sprayer 30 is provided near the web and beyond the burner. The sprayer which may be'of any suitable type is supplied with water from a suitable source through a pipe 3| and is controlled by a normally closed valve 32 which may be opened by an electromagnet 33. The water emerges from the spray as a very fine mist and is evaporated by coming. in contact with the heated air in the chamber 4, thereby reducing the temperature of the adjacent air and thus also reducing the temperature of the web 3.

In practice a number of burners with the complementary air supply and exhaust conduits are arranged side by side in the chamber 4, only one set being shown for the sake of simplicity, a single air supply and exhaust fan serving all sets of burners, but separate gas and water supplies may be employed.

Adjacent to the flame of the burner is arranged 7a flame detector 34 comprising an expansible chamber containing a liquid which expands due to-the heat of the flame, thereby closing normally open contacts 35. There is also arranged adjacent to the web a thermostat 36 of any suitable type having a movable contact 31 which in response to an abnormal ambient temperature is moved either into engagement with a high temperature stationary contact 39 or alow temperature stationary contact 38.

An ignition device 40 is arranged near the orifice II and is connected to the secondary winding of a high tension transformer 4|, which may be supplied with energy from any suitable source, the supply being controlled by an electromagnetic relay, having an energizing coil 42 and normally open contacts 42.

The web is held in tension in its' passage through the chamber 4 by a friction roller 43 over which it passes and which may be driven through suitable gearing by the motor or by any other suitable means.

The controller is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The system is supplied with energy from the direct current bus bars U, U. The motor 5 which may be of any suitable type is herein illustrated as a shunt motor having an armature 5 and a shunt field winding 5 and its speed may be regulated by a variable armature resistance 44. The latter is provided with a number of 'taps which are connected to contact buttons 44., arranged adjacent to and parallel with a contact bar 45 to which they may be connected by a sliding contact 46 insulatedly attached to a cross-head 41. The cross-head may be reciprocated by a screw 48 which engages the former and which may be rotated by a reversible pilot motor 48, one terminal of which is permanently connected to bus bar L while one or the other of its remaining terminals may be selectively connected to bus bar L to operate the motor 49 in one direction or the other.

The system is controlled by a number of manually operable push buttons as follows: a starting contacts 55 and 55, respectively; a relay 56 having an energizing winding 56, normally open contacts 56 and normally closed contacts 56; a

follows: a relay 54 having an energizing coil 54 and normally open contacts 54'; a relay 55 having an energizing winding 55 and normally open relay 5'! having an energizing winding 51 normally open contacts 5'! and normally closed contacts 51; a relay 58, having an energizing winding 58 and normally open contacts 58 a relay 59 having an energizing winding 59 and normally open contacts 59 a relay 68 having an energizing winding lill and normally open contacts 60 'a relay 6| having an energizing windof their respective terminals connected to bus bar L while their other terminals are connectable selectively through normally open contacts 61 to 1|, respectively, of relays 61 to H, inclusive, and through contacts 60* and I8 to one of the reversing terminals of motor I6; the other reversing terminal of said motor being connected through contacts l1 and 5!! to L while the common terminal of the motor is connected to U. 7 To further control the speed with which the motorl6 opens and closes the gas valve l5 and to provide a step by step motion thereof, an interrupter 12 which opens and closes the current supply to the contact 31 o: the thermostat 36 (Fig. 1) is interposed in a circuit extending from L over contacts 6, I2, 31, 38, coil 6|] to L or alternatively from contact 31 to as, coil 59 to IF, so as to periodically open and close the energizing circuit of the relays 68 and 58, respectively, when they are under the control of the thermostat 36 to prevent hunting of the system due to overrunmng.

The relays 61 to H, inclusive, are provided respectively withehergizing coils 61 to II? having one each of their respective terminals jointly connected to L The other terminals of coils 61 to 18* are connected respectively to one contact of each of the sets ofnormally closed contacts 68 to H of relays 68 to H, the other contacts of said sets 68 to H being respectively connected to contact buttons 13 to 16. The other terminal of coil 1 is connected directly to contact button 11. The aforementioned contact buttons 13 to 11, inclusive, are arranged adjacent to a contact bar 80, in such manner that a brush 19 attached to butinsulated from the cross-head 41 connects said buttons selectively to said bar as the cross-head is reciprocatedv by motor 49..

' head and operable by the latter are limit switches button 50 having normally open contacts, a stop 8| and 82, which are normally biased to closed pOSltiQIl' by any suitable means (not shown).

Switches 8| and 82, when opened selectively bythe cross-head at its respective extreme positions, act to open the respective reversing wires of motor 48.-

l'he'circuit of motor 5 is controlled by a main sw1tch 83, having an energizing winding 83*, norby the crosshead 41 in its off position is interposed between L and one terminal of coil 58 The system illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 operates as follows: If it is desired to operate the press, the blower 2| and suction fan 23 are started. With stop button 5| closed a circuit is established from L over contact 5|, coil 84 to L Relay 84 is thus energized and contacts 84 thereof are closed. Inasmuch as relay 6| is de-energized, contacts 6| are closed and another circuit is'closed from L over 8| through coil 85, over contacts 84 to L This energizes relay 85 and closes contacts 85'. It now the start button 58 is closed a further circuit is established from L through button 50. through coil 83, over contacts 85 and 84 to L This energizes main switch 83 which in turn closes contacts 83 the latter thereby short-circuiting the contacts of start button 50 so that it may be released, while the main switch remains closed and maintains closed the main contacts 83 and the auxiliary contacts 83, and'maintains open auxiliary contacts 83 and 83. The closure .of contacts 83 presets a circuit for coil 6| of relay 8| for completion upon bridging of contact bars 18 and 80 by portion 13 of crosshead' 41. Closure of 83 energizes field winding 5 of motor 5.

To start the equipment the operator now presses the on button 52, thereby establishing a circuit from L over contacts 52, through coil circuit of the main switch 83 are interrupted and the main motor 5 is stopped. Opening of main switch 83. also interrupts the energizing circuit of relay 8| which in turn shuts ofi the gas and water supply and interrupts the ignition circuit. At the same time contacts 83 and 83 close, the former paralleling button 53,

' while the latter completes the circuit through 54 to L thereby energizing relay 54 which completes a circuit from L over contacts 54 8| through winding of motor 49 to L whereupon motor 49 rotates to move the cross-head 41 to the right. As soon as the brush 46 connects the bar with the resistor 44, the circuit of motor armature 5 is completed and the press I and roller 43 (Fig. 1) rotate at a low speed which increases as the cross-head travels farther to the right, the motor 48 stopping as soon as the button 52 is released. As soon as the cross-head 19 makes contact between the bars 18 and 88 a circuit is completed from L over 83, 18,18,

80, through coil 5| to L Thereupon relay 8| is energized and closes contacts 6| and 6|. The relay also tends to open contact 6| but such opening is delayed for some time by the time delay mechanism of said contact. Closure of contact 6| completes an energizing circuit for the coils 4, 33 and 42 from L over contacts 6| through the respective coils in parallel to L Thus the gas supply line l2 and the water supply line 33 areopened and the igniter 40 is energized to ignite the gas escaping from the burner holes N. If the gas ignites in a given time it causes closure of contacts 350i detector 34 prior to the opening of the contact Si of relay 6|, thus paralleling the contact 6| and maintaining energization of relay 85 and main switch 83. If, however, the ignition of the escaping gas should be unduly delayed or the flame be extinguished at any time, the contacts 35 will open or remain open so that the energizing circuit of relay 85 and thus also the coil 58. Relay 58 closes and energizes magnet 29 which opens the dampers 26 and 21 as aforedescribed, the dampers remaining open until the cross-head has returned to the startingposition and opened limit switch 86. The opening of the dampers 26 and 21 to a-predetermined degree (preferably to the fully open position) increases the circulation of air through the chamber 4 to remove all combustible fumes therefrom and to .provide a flow of cool air through the chamber to prevent over-heating and/or ignition of the web prior to a complete shutdown of the press. Thereafter the system cannot be started again, except by pressing the start button 50.

As the cross-head 41 travels to the right (Fig. 2) toward the high speed position it successively connects the contact buttons 13 to 11 to the bus bar 18 and thus, as long as the contacts 83 are closed, to L This energizes one or another of the relays 61 to 1|, referred to, thereby completing a circuit from L through one of the resistors 52 to 66, inclusive. As long as on" button 52 is held closed the relay coil 5|; is energized by a current'fiowing from L over contacts of button 52 and 51 through coil 56* to L This closes contacts 56 thereby completing a circuit from L over contacts 56, through coil 68- to L Relay 88 closes contacts 68. Thus a circuit is completed from L through one of the resistors 62 to 66, inclusivepcontacts 60 switch i8, motor Hi to L so that motor l6 rotates-to open gas valve i5 (Fig. 1) at a speed determined by the adjustment of the respective resistors 62 to 66, inclusive. Thus the rate of increase in the supply of gas and the resulting heat supply can be accurately and automatically correlated to the speed of the press as determined'by the position of the cross-head.

If the cross-head is in an intermediate position or in the high speed position and the motor 5 operates at a corresponding speed and it is desired to reduce its speed, the off button 53 is depressed, thus completing the circuit from L over the contacts of button 53; through coil 55 to L 5 If it is desired to stop the apparatus, the stop button 5| may be depressed. This deenergizes relay 84, which in turn opens the energizing circuit of relay 85 and relay 85 opens the-energizing circuit of main switch 83, the latter thereafter re-- maining deenergnzed until the start button 58 is depressed. Deenergiz'ation of main switch 83 stops current supply to the mainmotor 5, at the L over said contacts 55 and contacts of limit switch 82, reverse winding of motor 49 to U and motor 49 moves the cross-head to the leit toward the off position to slow down the press motor 5.

Relay coil 51 is also energized by a current flowing from L over contacts of button 53 ject to control by the aforementioned limit switches I! and I8. However, when buttons 52 and 53 are in their open positions the relays 59 and 60 are under the control of the thermostat 36 (Fig. 1) through a circuit from L over contacts 6I, interrupter contacts 12, contact lever 31, and thence (if the temperature in. the chamber 4 is too low) to contact 38 and through relay coil 60 to L which as aforedescribed causes energize.- tion of motor I6 to increase the degree of opening of the valve I5. On the other hand, if the temperature in the chamber 4 is higher than that desired, the contact lever 31 engages contact 39 which causes the current to flow through relay coil 59*- to energize motor I6 to decrease the degree of opening of valve I5. The cycle of the interrupter I2 is such that after a current impulse which operates the motor I6 and valve l5 the motor comes to rest for a period which is sufficient to permit the temperature of the flame to attain a new value corresponding to the changed gas supply and for the thermostat 36 to respond to the new temperature and operate accordingly.

In the modification illustrated in Fig.' 3 the opening of the gas valve is controlled in accordance with the speed of the web, but subject to a supplemental control by the thermostat 36 aforementioned. The elements of the system which are identical with those shown and described in connection with Fig. 2 are indicated by like numerals, and we will now describe those elements in Fig. 3 which are different from those shown in Fig. 2. -A variable sender rheostat IN is provided with a sliding contact attached to a lever I02 which may be moved between limits, to-

connected to the bus bar L while the'other fixed terminal is connected to a contact bar I06 which is adapted to make contact with a brush I01 insulatedly mounted on the cross-head 41, except in the off position of said cross-head. Adjacent to the bar I06 and in the path of brushIOI to make contact therewith, is a series of contact buttons I08 which are respectively connected to taps of an adjustable resistor I09, the one end terminal of said resistor at the full speed end of the cross-head being connected to bus bar L1 and is also connected to a movable contact I I0 adapted to short circuit a variable amount of the resistor I 09.

Connected across the bus bars 'L ,L is a re-- sistor III of a receiver potentiometer III, provided also with a movable contact lever III operativelyconnected to the valve'motor I6 'to be moved in accordance withthe. movement of the valve I5. The operating coil H2 I02 and the lever III The movable armature H2 of said relay is connected to bus bar L and is adapted to make circuit with the contacts II2' and II2 respectively, when the armature is deflected in one direction or the other by the direction of current flow in the coil I I2. Circuits extend from the contacts II2 and H2 through the limit switches I! and I8, respectively, to one or the other of the reversing terminals of the motor I6, the common terminal of which is connected to bus bar L thus energizing the motor to open or close valve l5.

The operation of the system to control the press motor 5 is the same as already described in connection with Fig. 2. However, the control of operation of valve I5 (Fig. l by motor I6 through the system of Fig. 3 is different from the control provided by the system of Fig. 2. With the equipment as shown in the drawings (Figs. 1

and 3), after the motor 5 has been started and I I2 to close a circuit for motor I6 to either open or close valve I5 (Fig. 1), depending upon the direction of the current in coil I I2, the movement continuing until the position of the valve the relative potential of lever I 02 for a given posi-.

tion thereof, thus providing a relatively further opening of valve l5. By adjusting the contact IIO the relative position of the valve I5 for a given speed of the press may be further modified.

The opening of the valve I5 is further controlled by the thermostat 36 which controls reversible motor I04 to move the lever I02 through the clutch I 05 in one direction or the other in accordance with the temperature in chamber 4. The motor I 04 is energized intermittently through the interrupter I2 to move the lever I02, and thus move valve I5 step by step, as aforedescribed. The slip clutch I05 provides for energizing the relay II2 by manual movement of the lever I02, thus permitting a further adjustment of the relationship between the degree of valve opening and the speed of the press. However, as will be apparent, while the motor I6 tends to adjust the opening of the valve I5 in accordance with the speed of the press, such opening is always subject to final control by the thermostat 36.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

sponse to the speed of operation of said motor, means responsive to a temperature in said chamher and arranged to modify the controlling effect I 1. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a drying chamber, a motor adapted to move a printed web through said chamber, a

valve for controlling the supply of a heatingmedium to said chamber, means for' controlling the speed of operation of said motor, means for controlling the degree of opening of said valve and for varying the rate of said opening in reof said former means upon said valve, means to j supply a given volume of cooling and combustion of a polarized relay I I2 is connected between the lever air to .said chamber, and means to increase the supply of said air upon stoppage of said motor.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a drying chamber, a motor adapted to move a printed web through said chamber,

means for' controlling the speed of operation of said motor, a gas valve for controlling the supply of heating gas to said chamber, means operable in accordance with said speed for controlling the degree of opening of said valve, means responsive to a temperature in said chamber for modifying supply and said exhaustmeans upon stopping the operation of said motor, for the .purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a drying chamber, means including electric power means for moving a printed web through said chamber and for controlling its speed of movement, a gas valve for controlling the supply of heating gas to said chamber, means operable in accordance with said speed for controlling the degree of opening of said valve, means responsive to a temperature in said chamber for' modifying the controlling efiect of said last mentioned means upon said valve, means to supply a given volume of cooling and combustion air to said chamber, means to modify the rate ofsupply and exhaust ofsaid air while said power means are being stopped, means to supply energy for igniting said gas, means to supply a cooling liquid to said. chamber during movement ofsaid web by said power means, and means subject to a time delay and responsive to said temperature to assure continued operation of said power means upon starting thereof and to terminate operation thereof upon said temperature becoming abnormal.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a drying chamber, a motor adapted to move ,a printed web through said chamber,

means for controlling thespeed of said motor,

of heating gas to said chamber, means for varying the opening of saidvalve, means operable in accordance with said speed for controlling the rate of varying the opening of said valve, means responsive to a temperature in said chamber for modifying in a step by step manner the eflect of said last mentioned means upon said valve controlling means, means tosupply a given volume of cooling and combustion air to said chamber, means to exhaust said air from said chamber, and means to modify the rate of supply and exhaust of said air upon stopping the operation of said motor;

5. In a. device of the character described, in

combination, a drying chamber, means includingv electric power means for moving a printed web through said chamber and for controlling its .speed of movement, an adjustable gas valve for controlling the supply of heating gas to said chamber, means for varying the opening of said valve, means operable in accordance with said speed for controlling the rate of varying the opening of said valve, means responsive to a temperature in said chamber for modifying in a step by step manner the effect of said last mentioned means upon said valve, means to supply a given volume of cooling and combustion air to said chamber, means to exhaust said air from said chamber, means to modify the rate of supply and exhaust of said air upon stopping the operation of said web, means to supply energy for igniting said gas, means to supply a cooling liquid to said chamber during operation of said web by said power means, and means subject to atime' delay and responsive to said temperature to assure continued operation of said power means upon starting thereof and to terminate operation thereof upon said temperature becoming abnormal. I

CYRIL P. FELDHAUSEN'. ERIC H. LAABS.

an adjustable gas valve for controlling the supply 

